Fluid flow systems and methods

Abstract

A fluid flow system for a hydrotherapy tub includes a fluid injector and a light source. The fluid injector is adapted to inject fluid to an interior of the hydrotherapy tub and the light source is adapted to direct light toward the interior of the hydrotherapy tub through the fluid injector.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A fluid flow system for a hydrotherapy-tub, said system comprising: 
       an air injector for injecting air to an interior of the hydrotherapy-tub, said injector having at least one inlet, an outlet member having a cap and at least one outlet, and a cavity for allowing air to flow from said at least one inlet to said at least one outlet; and  
       a light source adapted to direct light toward said interior of the hydrotherapy-tub through said cavity and said cap of said outlet member of said air injector.  
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein said air injector further comprises a body member, and wherein said outlet member and said body member are adapted to engage each other through a wall of the hydrotherapy-tub to mount said fluid injector on said wall. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of said air injector comprises at least one of a translucent material and a transparent material. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  wherein said air injector is adapted to receive the air from a source of air. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4  wherein the air comprises pressurized air. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of outlets is configured to inject the air toward the interior of the hydrotherapy-tub. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein said plurality of outlets is aligned substantially coplanar to the interior surface of the hydrotherapy-tub. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1  wherein said light source comprises at least one of an incandescent light, a fluorescent light, a fiber-optic light, and a light-emitting-diode. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a controller coupled to said light source for controlling said light source. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9  wherein said controller is programmable to cause said light source to direct light toward the interior of the hydrotherapy tub at least one of at a preselected intensity and at a preselected interval of time. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a light housing for holding said light source therein, and wherein said light housing is adapted to receive said fluid injector. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11  wherein said light housing is adapted to direct light produced by said light source through said air injector. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1  wherein said air injector is adapted to be located below a water surface. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1  wherein said air injector comprises 
       a first end having at least one outlet for injecting the air toward the interior of the hydrotherapy-tub;  
       a second end adjacent to said light source; and  
       said inlet being configured to receive the air from an air source, said inlet being located between said first end and said second end.  
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14  wherein said inlet is located on a longitudinal side of said air injector. 
     
     
       16. A method for directing light to an interior of a hydrotherapy tub, said method comprising: 
       providing an air injection having an inlet, an outlet member having an outlet, and a cavity allowing air to flow from the inlet to the outlet; and  
       directing light toward the interior of the hydrotherapy tub from a light source through the cavity and a cap of the outlet member of the air injector.  
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  further comprising controlling at least one of an intensity of the light and a time interval of the directing of the light by programming a controller coupled to the light source. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16  further comprising injecting air through the air injector to the interior of the hydrotherapy tub. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16  wherein the air injector comprises at least one of a transparent material and a translucent material. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16  further comprising engaging an outlet member of the air injector with a body of the air injector through a wall of the hydrotherapy tub. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20  wherein the engaging causes the outlet member and the body to be releasably mounted on the wall. 
     
     
       22. A hydrotherapy tub, comprising: 
       an interior portion;  
       an air injector for injecting air to said interior portion of the hydrotherapy-tub, said air injector having at least one inlet, an outlet member having a cap and at least one outlet, and a cavity for allowing air to flow from said at least one inlet to said at least one outlet; and  
       a light source adapted to direct light toward said interior portion of the hydrotherapy-tub through said cavity and said cap of said outlet member of said air injector.  
     
     
       23. The hydrotherapy tub of  claim 22  wherein at least a portion of said air injector comprises at least one of a translucent material and a transparent material. 
     
     
       24. The hydrotherapy tub of  claim 22  wherein said air injector further comprises a body member, and wherein said outlet member and said body member are adapted to engage each other through a wall of the hydrotherapy-tub to mount said air injector on the wall. 
     
     
       25. The hydrotherapy tub of  claim 22  further comprising a controller coupled to said light source for controlling said light source, wherein said controller is programmable to cause said light source to direct light toward the interior of the hydrotherapy tub at least one of at a pre-selected intensity and at a preselected interval of time. 
     
     
       26. The hydrotherapy tub of  claim 22  wherein said air injector comprises a plurality of outlets for injecting the air toward the interior of the hydrotherapy-tub. 
     
     
       27. The hydrotherapy tub of  claim 22  wherein said air injector comprises 
       a first end having at least one outlet for injecting the air toward the interior of the hydrotherapy-tub;  
       a second end adjacent to said light source; and  
       an inlet for receiving the air from an air source, said inlet being located between said first end and said second end.  
     
     
       28. The hydrotherapy tub of  claim 27  wherein said inlet is located on a longitudinal side of said air injector. 
     
     
       29. The hydrotherapy tub of  claim 27  wherein the air source comprises a source of pressurized air.